Pressure controller



ec. 15, 1942m AUTO.

MAX.

M IN

OFF'

Patented Dec. 15, 1942 PRESSURE CONTROLLER l Morris W. Crew, Cleveland, Ohio, aasignor to The Hotstream Heater Company, Cleveland, Ohio, a corporation of Ohio Application July 28, 1941, Serial No. 404,306

This invention relates to a device for controlling any regulating equipment electrically when actuated by the pressure within a system.

In other words, this invention relates to improvements in a pressure control device which in turn controlselectriccircuits.

An object of the present invention is to provide pressure actuated means for closing and opening electric circuits when the pressure is increased or decreased from a predetermined neutral point.

Another object of the present invention is to provide novel means for producing a step by step operation of regulating equipment in response to changes in pressure.

Other objects and advantages of the present invention will appear from the accompanying description and drawing and the essential features thereof will be set forth in the appended claim.

In the drawing, Fig. 1 is a front elevation of my improved pressure controller with the front of the instrument casing removed and with certain of the parts broken away or in section to more clearly show the construction; Fig. 2 is an 4elevational view of the instrument of Fig. 1.

taken from the right-hand side of that view; while Fig. 3 is a wiring diagram illustrating one use of my equipment.

it will be obvious to those skilled in this art that my invention is useful in many industrial applications. For simplicity, however, I shall describe the same in connection with lthe control of steam pressure in a system within desired limits .wherein my control device is operated by the steam pressure in the system to produce movements of electrically controlled equipment ior varying the steam pressure. It will be well understood that such electrical equipment may be used to control a boiler draft damper, fan pressure connected with the boiler, stoker speed, oil burner valves and the oil burner air ports, speed of chain grate stokers, or fuel bed control apparatus on other types of stokers. these control devices serve to increase or decrease steam pressure in the system so as to hold it at a predetermined point which is the function of my improved pressure controller here described. My invention will be described in connection with such a system, it being underatmd that other applications are possible within the scope of my claim.

The device shown in Figs. 1 and 2 comprises means forming a pressure chamber Il which is adapted to be connected by a conduit threaded Any of` 1 Claim. (Cl. 2ML-83) into the boss Il with a steam pressure system. I intend that my device should be placed below the steam line so that the pipe connected at the point Il and the chamber il will be lled with condensate, thus giving a more accurate and dependable instrument. The lower side of the pressure chamber comprises a .flexible diaphragm wall i2, the diaphragm being held between the parts Ila and Ib of the pressure chamber housing.

An open bracket I3 rigid with the member IIb extends downwardly therefrom and serves to guide the parts controlling the electrical circuits ln response to changes in steam pressure. A rod I4 is provided with a pressure head Il engaging the lower face of diaphragm Il. This pressure head has a portion slidable in the member lob and in bracket i3 thus also serving as a guide for the upper end of the rod H. A pin I6 limits upward movement of rod Il. The lower end of the rod extends through a central bore ila in the adjusting nut l1 which has threaded engagement with the bottom of bracket I3. A spring Il encircles the rod I! and is held between the adjusting nut and a collar Il which engages a suitable shoulder on the rod il. By turning the nut l1 the desired stress is imparted to spring II to oppose the pressure in chamber il. This determines the normal pressure to befmaintained in the system by my improved device. Rlgidly mounted in the rod I4 is a pin 2l which extends through a slot Ita in one of lthe side members of the bracket II. A pointer 52| is pivotally mounted on the bracket i3 at the 35.?

point Zia and is provided with a bifurcated end '12th embracing the pin 28. Thus as the pin 2l moves up and down in response to pressure -changes in the chamber l0, the free end of the pointer 2i is oscillated relative to a ilxed marker 22. When the pointer is opposite the marker the control device is in neutral position as will presently appear.. y

Fixed on a portion of the bracket I3 are two switches 23 andj. The switch Il has two ter mnals connected to the binding posts 2i and 2l by connections. not shown in Figs. 1 and 2, but diagrammatically illustrated in Fig. 8. In like manner the switch 2l has terminals connected to the binding posts 21 and Il. 'Ihe switch 23 has an actuating button 23a which is operable by a flexible blade 23h which lies with slight clearance on the upper side of pin 2l. The switch 24 has an operating button 24a which is actuated by a flexible blade 2lb which lies with slight clearance near the lower side of pin able type but those here shown are oi the type described and claimed in Patent No. 1,960,020, granted May 22, 1934, to P. K. McGall. These switches are operable by a very slight movement (say, of a few thousandths of an inch) of the operating button and the?,7 are therefore partice ularly adapted for use in connection with the pressure controlled pin 2Q.

It is generally desirable in e device of this sort to provide a movement of the electrical control apparatus in response to pressure in the chamher l and then to have an inoperative period until the regulating device shall have produced an eilect upon the pressure in the chamber i3 before calling for further movement of the regulating apparatus. 1n other words, if the pressure in chamber i3 is too high and some regulating device, such as e. damper, is closed to decrease boiler draft in response to operation of switch 24, then it is advisable to wait a brief period for the effect of the decreased draft on the pressure in chamber H) before causing further movement of the control damper. To this end I have provided a step by step operation of my device which is intended to prevent overrun- .ning or hunting of the control device.

In the form here shown, a motor 2! is mounted in need position, preferably on the board 3l which is supported by the bracket or some other suitable part connected with the casing of the device. On the shaft of this motor is mounted a. cam 3i adapted to engage the operating blade 32h which actuates the button 32a of a. normally open switch E72 mounted on the board 39.

The motor 29 is preferably provided with a reduction gearing so that the cam 3i makes about one revolution per minute, although it will be understood that the timing of the cam 3l may be made to satisfy any given seil of conditions. Preferably the circuits are so arranged that the step by step action of cam 3i may be utilized in connection with the rest oi the control device or may be dispensed with according to the position oi a single pole double throw switch 33 cont-rolled by the manual 33o which may be mounted on the iront of the casing.

`A. control switch 34 is also mounted on the front o the casing 3S and switch hw four control positions as indicated in Fig. 3. When thrown to the minimum position the draft damper 'for instance would be trrown to its closed position and when 'thrown to the maximum po sition the damper would be thrown to a wide open position. iffhereas when the switch is thrown to he automatic position as shown in full lines in die device operatesautomatically to hold termined temperature. mg now tc Fig. 3, the motor 23 is cont nected across the line L1, 'in se that it will oper-u ate constantly although it will be readiiy unn derstood that this motor may be shut down at any time desired by introducing the proper control The line is also by with the terminal 31 of 34. The antoine c button or control swit-h l b', une t3 with the comino t of switch 322. @ne termine-i of la. Ml

is connected through line 4i with one of the terminals of switch 32. The other terminal of switch 32 is connected through lines 42 and 43 with terminal 25 of switch 23 and by line 44 with terminal 21 of switch 24. Terminal 40a of switch 39 is directly connected by line 45 to lines 43 and 44. Terminal 23 of switch 23 is connected by line 4i with binding post 41 which in turn is connected to one side of the electrical control device for operating it in a direction to incerase steam pressure. For instance the bindlng post 41 might be connected to one side of a reversible motor connected to a draft damper in a direction to operate the motor to open the damper. The maximum button for control switch 34 is connected by lines 43 and 46 to binding post 41 also. Terminal 23 of switch 24 is connected by line 49 with binding post 50 which in turn is connected to that side of the control device for operating it in a direction opposite to that described in connection with binding post 41. For instance, binding post 50 might be connected to the other side of a reversible motor connected to a draft damper in a direction to operate the motor to close the damper. The minimum button for switch 34 is connected by lines 5| and 49 to binding post 50 also. A common wire for the electrical control device operated in opposite directions by the connections at 41 and I0 comes into binding post 52 and is connected by line I3 at La.

It is believed the operationof the device will now be apparent. With the pressure system connected to the chamber i0, the adjusting nut I1 is turned to that position which causes the pointer 2l to assume that neutral position shown in Fig, l when the pressure in the system is that desired. If the interrupter device is to be used, the switch 33 is thrown to that position where it connects terminals 39 and 40. If the interrupter is not desired then obviously the switch 33 is thrown in the other direction to connect terminals 39 and 40a. Assuming that the interruptor is used, however, then if the pressure in chamber Il becomes too great, pressure on the diaphragm i2 will move rod i4 and pin 2| downwardly, thus almost immediately pressing against the blade 24D and closing switch 24. This completes a circuit from Ll through line 36, terminal 31, switch 34, line 38, switch 33, line 4i and switch 32 (during such time as cam 3| closes this switch), lines 42 and 44, switch 24, line 49, binding post 50 through the electrical control device back through binding post 52 and line B3 to Lz. This will operate the control device in a direction to close the draft damper and decrease the steam pressure. After approximately fifteen seconds the cam 3i will open switch 32 and then after an interval of about fifteen seconds the cam will close switch 32 again If the steam pressure in chamber i3 still keeps switch 24 closed, the process will be repeated until the draft damper is closed sufficiently to decrease the steam pressure to the desired normal point.

If pressure in chamber i0 drops below normal, switchen is closed and .a circuit is completed through line 43, binding pest i1, the control device, binding post 52 and line 53 to La. This will operate the control device step by step to open the draft damper until the steam pressure is again increased to the normal point.

The switches 23 and 2t are very sensitive and require very little change er pressure in chamber i3 to operate the blades 23h and 24h are set close to pin 2U, the pressure in chamber 2,ao4,soo y 3 il, and in the controlled System, may be held within an unbelievably narrow range.

What I claim is:

In a controller of the class described, means providing an expansible pressure chamber, an v element movable in' response to expansion of said chamber, n. pair oi' electric switches having their respective actuators movable in opposite directions for switch closnr two yieldabie connections between nid element and uid switches, l0 

